All the Way from Norway. . .

. . . is where this rather unique gent with an oddly engaging smile came from. He is a troll, not the Internet kind, but of the ancient and mythical variety. 

Trolls trace their origins back to Norse mythology. They were an ancient race who lived in the isolated forests and mountains. Some were giants, some had three heads, and others lived underground, but all were described as ugly, with a rough appearance, oversized nose, and a hairy cow-like tail. Generally they avoided people, but were protective of their woodlands and did not take kindly to trespassers, in some cases even eating unfortunate travelers. Slow-witted and often grouchy, trolls did possess some magical powers. They could place curses on humans who angered them and some were capable of shape-shifting. A troll might turn into a beautiful woman in an attempt to lure a hunter or farm boy into the woods. However, the troll could never disguise its tail and many a young man was saved when he noticed a tail twitching out from under the lovely lady's skirts. Trolls were night creatures and avoided sunlight, which would turn them into stone, and some of the craggy rocks along Norway's fjords or capping its mountains are claimed to be the remains of unwary trolls would failed to reach home by sunrise.

This troll was created by the Norwegian company, Ny Form, founded by Trygve Torgersen. Born in 1924, Trygve graduated from the Kunstakademiet (Art Academy) in 1945 with honors in sculpture. Following his marriage to Evelyn Signora Torgersen, the couple decided to create souvenir figurines and in 1957 started production of Norwegian nisse (elves) and trolls at their home in Oslo. However, most retailers found Trygve's creations too ugly and frightening. Taking advantage of a government program encouraging businesses to relocate to create more employment opportunities, in 1963 the couple moved to Tynset, joined by their daughter and son-in-law. Trygve designed a new line of figures and in 1964 Ny Form officially opened. The new creations, simultaneously ugly and endearing, were an immediate hit.  Ny Form trolls are now found in souvenir shops throughout Norway and the trolls are sought after by collectors from all over the world. Crafted from latex, each troll is handmade and painted, often topped with a wild wig of wool or reindeer fur. New models are introduced periodically and older ones retired. Evelyn and Trygve themselves retired in the 1970s, but their daughter and her husband continue to operate the company. This troll is a sizable 21 inches and is a model that was discontinued in 1995. 

Norwegian farmers believed that a small troll lived hidden on their farm; if the farmer angered the troll, such as being cruel to his animals or failing to take good care of the land, the troll could sour the cows' milk or wither the crops. To stay on the good side of the irascible troll, the farmer would leave out offerings of the troll's favorite food, porridge with butter. It is still a tradition in Norway to leave a bowl of porridge in the barn or on the porch at Christmas as a gift to the local troll. So with Christmas just around the corner, why not create a new tradition? Instead of an elf on the shelf, you can have a troll with a bowl.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16592-170

Artistic Interpretation of Early Austin

This striking and unusual artwork reimagines a vintage image of Congress Avenue. 

 

The center of the picture portrays a dapper Dr. Mathews as he stands in front of his office, while a smiling crowd looks on. 

A clue to the date of the image is the reference to the "Casino Theater." The theater opened in 1909 at 702 Congress Avenue and closed in 1924. The site is now the home of the Contemporary Jones Center. 

The artist, Raymond Zaplatar, has lived in Austin for over 27 years. He was born in Ontario, Canada and went to the H. B. Beal Secondary School in London, Ontario, renown for its excellent art department. Although Zaplatar has worked in pastels, graphite, acrylic, and oils, he finds himself returning to watercolor.  According to Zaplatar, the original image came from a historic foundation and he added the foreground figure, which is a portrait of a friend's father.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16750-30

A Wise Choice. . .

 . . . is what you will have made when you select this stunning signet ring in gleaming 18 karat gold. The ring features the helmeted profile of Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. 

The image of Athena is actually a replica of a coin issued during the reign of Alexander III of Macedon, also known as Alexander the Great, from 336 BC to 323 BC. The obverse of the coin, visible from the inside of the ring, spells out "Alexander" in ancient Greek letters and includes the images of the club and bow of Hercules, which often appeared on coins of the era. Alexander claimed to be a descendant of this mythological hero. 

The inside of the ring is stamped "750," the assay mark for 18 karat gold, meaning that the metal is 75 percent gold.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

14130-114

All Hale!

Which is what you will want to shout when you see this handsome and functional sectional bookcase by Hale Manufacturing Company. Originally dubbed "barrister bookcase," this style of bookcase was widely used by barristers in late Victorian England. In the English judicial system, a barrister was a lawyer licensed to advocate in court, particularly in the higher courts, and needed an extensive law library. These sturdy stacking modular bookcases not only allowed a barrister to arrange and add bookshelf room as needed, but a barrister could also remove a section or sections to easily and safely transport books to a court or to consult with another attorney or a client.

 The glass fronts, which smoothly slid up and over the books, helped protect the often costly volumes from dirt and dust. These useful and attractive bookcases soon became popular in offices and homes throughout Europe and in the United States, used not only to display treasured tomes, but also objets d'art.

Hale Manufacturing Company was originally founded in 1907 by Mr. F. E. Hale in Herkimer, New York, to manufacture barrister-style sectional bookcases. The company is still in business today.

 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

7904-27

The Devil Wears Prada*. . .

. . . and so can you with these new treasures from our trove! Next-to-New has recently added an Apparel category, which includes carefully selected and curated designer fashions and menswear. We currently have a tantalizing trio of high-fashion footwear from Prada S.p.A., an Italian luxury fashion house that specializes in finely crafted leather goods, such as shoes, leather handbags, and other accessories. Each pair comes with its original box.

Prada was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1913 by brothers Mario and Martino Prada as a leather goods shop. Ironically, even though Mario did not believe that women should have a role in business, he was succeeded by his daughter, Luisa, who was later succeeded by her daughter, Muiccia. The company continues as a well-known luxury brand, and has since expanded into other areas of fashion, including men's and women's clothing, perfume, and eyewear.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

* The Devil Wears Prada is a bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger, who had previously had worked as the personal assistant for "American Vogue" editor Anna Wintour. The 2003 novel chronicles the not-so-glamourous life of a personal assistant to a powerful and demanding fashion magazine editor. It was made into a movie of the same title in 2006.

An Incredible Credenza!

The epitome of both Danish modern design and mid-century modern aesthetics, this beautiful vintage rosewood credenza is attributed to the Danish firm of Skovby Møbelfabrik. Danish modern design actually dates back to after WWI, emphasizing function and the beauty of form and natural woods over ornamentation. In the United States, beginning in the 1950s, the elegant simplicity of Danish modern furniture was a perfect fit with the mid-century modern movement, which also promoted the use of natural materials, the elimination of unnecessary embellishment, and an emphasis on craftsmanship and clean, uncluttered silhouettes. The 1960s saw in big boom in the incorporation of Danish modern furniture in American homes, but, by the end of the decade, changes in American consumer tastes and shopping habits resulted in it falling out of favor. However, once again consumers and collectors have come to appreciate the beauty and versatility of Danish modern furniture and vintage pieces as gorgeous as this example are in high demand.

Demonstrating the Danish modern focus on functionality, there are ample storage options. . .

. . . including these velvet-lined drawers. 

Skovby was founded in 1933 by cabinetmaker Thorvald Rasmussen, creating innovative, sustainable and functional furniture. As his work grew in popularity and the company expanded from a one-man workshop, he was joined by his son, Villy Rasmussen. Today, the family tradition continues under his grandsons,  Preben and Jørgen Rasmussen.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16768-5

Cool. . .

. . . is what you'll say when you see this attractive antique oak icebox.

For centuries humans have struggled with how to preserve food. Many foodstuffs could be smoked, dried, or fermented, but our ancestors understood that cold could keep meat, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables fresh. Storage could be as simple as immersing an item in a natural spring or as labor-intensive as digging a root cellar. Ice pits and wells lined with stone and filled with ice harvested from ponds and lakes were the earliest iceboxes. In the early 1800s, Frederick Tudor established the Tudor Ice Company, commercially harvesting ice during New England winters and shipping it as far away as Hong Kong and India.  Dubbed the "Ice King," Tudor insulated the ice with sawdust, a byproduct of the lumber industry, learned how to stack it like bricks to help preserve it during its journey, and built special insulated ice houses for storing the ice. By the mid-1800s, the machines for artificially creating ice were patented.

The availability of ice resulted in the creation of the home "icebox," typically lined with zinc or tin and adorned outside with wood. By the late 1800s, such iceboxes were standard kitchen appliances. Because the ice would eventually melt, homes had regular visits from ice men who delivered blocks of ice, some as heavy as 60 pounds. In 1927, General Electric introduced the first popular electric refrigerator and by the 1930s, iceboxes were becoming obsolete.

However, you could give this unique antique a second life. With its handsome oak exterior, it would make the most amazing cooler for drinks and adult libations, or, with a little ingenuity, it could be repurposed as a bar, storage unit, or even book shelf. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!